Senator Joe Pennacchio (R-Morris, Passaic, Essex) issued the following statement regarding the Democrat-sponsored SCR-188:
Sen. Joe Pennacchio said that we should heed a warning of Benjamin Franklin as it relates to the Democrats’ attempt to rig legislative elections through SCR-188. (Wikimedia Commons)
“Upon leaving the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin was asked what type of government was given the people. ‘A Republic, if you can keep it,’ answered Franklin.
“Our founding fathers knew that representative government could only be defeated by internal not external forces. Self-interest, especially by political parties, could cannibalize this precious experiment called democracy.
“In politics bad policy often attaches itself to a nice name. The same rings true for SCR-188. This resolution is being sold to the public as being in the interest of fairness and competitiveness. However, it would bring the opposite. You can call a week old fish, ‘exquisitely aged,’ but like respected Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray testified about SCR-188, it still ‘smells fishy.’
“This political move will tenure 90 out of 120 legislators across the state. Seventy-five percent will be guaranteed their seats. No longer will they be held accountable by the people but rather will now have to answer only to the political bosses. This power grab by the Democrats is shameless and covers its blatant partisanship by using the very constitution they swore to uphold.
“Patrick Murray also described SCR-188 as, ‘a bold face attempt to pull the wool over voters’ eyes.’
“All of the effort that is being spent to fight this injustice in the legislature now and in the courts in the future would be better spent making New Jersey a more affordable place to live.
“The reality, however, is that Democrats care more about politics than they care about people. This ‘fishy’ resolution proves it.”
Website Post:
https://www.senatenj.com/index.php/pennacchio/senator-pennacchio-scr-188-is-shameless-democrat-power-grab/25133
